An ear splitting machine gun stutter of explosions stunned us out of our peaceful repose on Saturday morning. A wedding was visiting the apartment opposite, ready to present the bride in full regalia to her parents-in-law and one of the attendants had set the traditional row of crackers to ward away any evil at the entrance to the block. The be-ribboned car paused for the fireworks to sputter and die before driving up to deposit the precious cargo.
Summer has flicked a switch and is now on in earnest. We'd been seeking some relief from the cold and rain while lamenting its late onset, but now find ourselves already wishing it away! The air-conditioners are on and pumping both day and night as the mercury soars and the humidity saps: we'd forgotten how brutal it can be. With the temperatures maintaining their peaks through the night and the air becoming still and heavy, the air-con is a necessity to sleep through the night. Masks on for school is becoming more than tedious: they're wet with sweat before we even arrive.
On that note, we're now into our 5th week wearing masks at all times during the school day and while it is not seamless, we've become more used to it. We've learned not to get too aeriated or passionate in our monologues as there is tendency to suck the mask into the mouth in the throes of impassioned teaching! The truth is that we're absolutely delighted to be here in any capacity: the alternative is awful and enervating, as any teacher who has taught remotely for more than a month can testify to.
Ostensibly due to Covid-19, but possibly also because he is a complete goose, the new MS boss has decided in his wisdom that departing faculty will get a short speech (2-4 min), no extras like photos or slide shows and all done in a very perfunctory manner at a sterile, brief, after-school staff meeting. We're not ones for any great fanfare, but for time immemorial the MS has had a relaxed luncheon and speeches and accolades could spread out to fill the time. There appears to be no whole school formal assembly on the horizon either, so this two minutes will be our moment in the sun: lucky we know we're legends, and don't need anyone to wax lyrically about it!!
Mr. Lee and Linda did indeed arrive mid-week to hear our news about leaving. They were great, a little shocked to hear we were leaving (too young!) and a little sad to see us go (we'd been the perfect tenants and friendly). We explained that there would be a lot of stuff left when the shippers and we departed. I'm not sure they quite comprehend the enormity of it, but agreed to clean up so that's great. I just hope they know what they're letting themselves in for! They'll pay us back 2/3 of the security deposit and take the other 1/3 for June's rent and clean-up costs. We thought that was a pretty good deal! It will be sad for both parties to end our association....I'm sure they're spewing to lose the perfect tenants!
The car was sold late in the week as well, so I hope it goes well for the new owner. She texted me on Sunday night and said the hazard lights kept going on for no reason: it's never done that before, so I told her I didn't know...I hope she gets that sorted out. I did supply her with a good mechanic's address and number so she should be OK. Silver Bullet...farewell!
Photos: the phone hardly left my pocket this week, but the wedding entrance, some daisies and the last flush of spring made it here.